Video

Mar 6, 2017 | 01:28

Erdogan compares German conduct with Nazi period

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan compares Germany's conduct to the Nazi period after political meetings of resident Turks that were due to be addressed by Turkish officials were cancelled in two German cities amid growing public outrage over Ankara's arrest of a Turkish-German journalist. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

TRANSCRIPT +

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stepped up his rhetoric against Germany on Sunday (March 5) in a growing row over the cancellation of political rallies aimed at drumming up support for him.
"They thought Tayyip Erdogan would go to Germany. If I want to go to Germany I will and if you don't let me in through your doors, if you don't let me speak, then I will make the world rise to its feet," Erdogan told a meeting in Istanbul.
German authorities withdrew permission last week for two rallies by Turkish citizens in German cities, at which Turkish ministers were to urge a "Yes" vote in a referendum next month on granting Erdogan sweeping new presidential powers.
The planned rallies were part of a Turkish government campaign to win support among Germany's 1.5 million-strong Turkish community for sweeping new presidential powers going to referendum in April 16.
The German authorities cited security concerns.
"Germany, you have no relation whatsoever to democracy and you should know that your current actions are no different to those of the Nazi period," Erdogan said at a rally in Istanbul.
"When we say that, they get disturbed. Why are you disturbed?"

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